Thought I’d dial up the status factor and visit four of Napa Valley, CA top-tier wine producers – Staglin, Rudd, Quintessa and Corison. Needless to say, the quality of the wines at all of these wine country icons is beyond the beyond. But what make these wine country destinations interesting places to visit are the personal stories behind them.

Staglin (Rutherford): As you would expect from a “cult” wine producer, Staglin employs world-class talent in the pursuit of excellence. David Abreu (Harlan, Colgin, Sloan, Bryant, Araujo, Screaming Eagle) tends the vines and “flying winemaker” Michel Rolland consults in the cellar. Get your checkbook out . . .it will be worth it.
The Staglins don’t just spend money; they raise it for charity, some $800 million over the last 20 years. Their principle focus is mental health and their annual Festival, which features Grammy award-winning musicians, 5-star chefs and copious amounts of wine. It’s a steep ticket but the proceeds fund research to better understand, treat and prevent brain diseases and injuries.

Rudd (Oakville): Leslie Rudd is the man behind Dean & DeLuca, the gourmet grocery chain with outposts from NYC to Dubai. Here in Napa, his interests also include the Oakville Grocery and Press, a steak house for those on an expense account. Leslie knows good chow and fine wine. A fact you can verify when you visit the caves at Rudd and see his personal cellar. It’s filled with local and international first-growths. When I visited they were building a couple of boathouses around the winery’s pond that will be able to house 20-30 guests. When they’re ready for hosting, I’ll let you know.

Quintessa (Rutherford): Quintessa does something almost nobody in Napa does: they make but one wine. This is the Bordeaux model, where some or all of the five Bordeaux varietals — Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere – are used to create a single blend to represent the property as a whole.
The architecture is amazing. The winery, a sweeping arc of stone, is literally built into the hillside. Until I took the walking tour, I had no idea how vast the property was –280 acres with 170 of them under vine.

Corison (Rutherford): Napa Valley wines have a reputation for being dense, rich and alcoholic. To get that way, the grapes are harvested as late and as ripe as possible. Not so at Corison. Cathy Corison, the owner & winemaker, prefers to make wines that value elegance over power and structure over immediate gratification. Her wines are meant to be laid down and with time, they most definitely reward your patience. To prove that point, the winery offers a library tasting that gives you a terrific window into the nuances of vintage and bottle development. In spite of this rather intellectual experience, the vibe here is totally laid back.